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For immediate release: July 1, 2008
For more information, contact:
Brent Miles, President, 913.371.3198
Local Companies honored by the Kansas Department of Commerce
Kansas City, KS — Three Wyandotte County companies were recognized last month by the Kansas Department
of Commerce for contributions to their communities and the economy: Herff Jones, First State Bank, and
Plastic Packaging. The companies were honored at the economic agency's annual Kansas Business
Appreciation Month (BAM) East Regional Awards ceremony in Topeka.
The Department of Commerce's awards program divides the state into six regions, East, North Central, North
West, South East, South Central, and South West. At each regional awards ceremony, one company in each of
three categories – Manufacturing/Distribution, Service and Retail – is awarded a Business Excellence Award,
with remaining companies given a Business Achievement Award or a Merit Award.
The three businesses recognized from Wyandotte County were among 25 businesses honored in the east
Kansas region. A total of 196 nominations were received across the state. Two of this year's winners from
Wyandotte County received the following awards for business achievement.
- Herff Jones | Edwardsville, Kansas
Manufacturing/Distribution Category – Business Achievement Award Winner
Nominated by: City of Edwardsville
Herff Jones is a manufacturer of books, including yearbooks and similar publications. The company
has made capital investments totaling more than $13 million since 1998 and added 15 jobs in 2005
alone. Herff Jones has provided scholarships to USD 204, 400 hours of volunteer time to the Susan B.
Komen Race for the Cure and clothing to the Salvation Army clothing drive. The company is also an
active member of the Bonner Springs/Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Edwardsville
Economic Development Committee.
- First State Bank | Bonner Springs, Kansas
Retail Category – Business Achievement Award Winner
Nominated by: Basehor Chamber of Commerce
First State Bank is a full-service bank in Bonner Springs. In the past 10 years, the bank has purchased
two buildings and built two new ones in Leavenworth County, along the way investing more than
$8.4 million. The bank supports various community activities, including Basehor Dairy Days, Project
Grad, Basehor/Linwood Education Foundation, Read Across America Day at Tonganoxie Grade
School, exchange city interviews at Tonganoxie Middle School and Teach Kids to Save presentations.
In addition to recognizing Kansas businesses for their contributions to communities and their local economy,
the Department of Commerce recognized companies that have demonstrated excellence in workforce
practices, specifically recruitment and retention strategies. One of two winners in this category was the
following Wyandotte County business.
- Plastic Packaging, LLC | Kansas City, Kansas
Workforce Excellence Award Winner
Plastic Packaging is based in Kansas City, Kansas and has grown since the early 1970's into a full
service manufacturer of flexible packaging solutions for the food, health care and security industries.
The company's most recent commitment to workforce development is in the capacity of serving as a
business consultant to a coalition of Wyandotte County employment service providers. In this capacity,
Plastic Packaging is serving as the test site for the coalition's newly established workforce service
delivery system for high impact employment projects.
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